Travelogue

Chopta, Uttarakhand:

Started at 5 am, it is a long and tiring drive, as after Rishikesh

around 200kms is windy, reached Chopta by 5.30 pm. The place
was too cool, around 6-7 degrees and immediately we had to
search for our pullovers.

Magpie camps is located 7kms before Chopta in the Kedarnath

wildlife sanctuary. The camps are located in the lush green mead-
ows, just 300m from the parking area, with majestic views of
Chaukambaha, Kedarnath among other snow clad Himalaya moun-
tains. There are around 10 camps, adequate luxury, with good com-
fortable neat beds and two layer blankets. A hamam provides hot
water which one can carry in buckets. Tea and food were good, and
above all the boys were very friendly and quick in service. The sea-
son time is May & June, at present we were just three families. Al-
pine, Neelkanth, Paradise etc are some other camps located nearby.
Only Idea and Vodafone works in the camp. That too intermittently.
Almost nil GPRS connection..
Trek to Tunganath & Chandrashila
The trek starts at a height of 8,790 ft at Chopta and passes by
the 1,000-year-old Tungnath Temple and ends at an altitude of
13,100 ft at the Chandrashila peak.

Along with Sonu, our guide we drive around 7kms to reach

Chopta village. Park the car and start the climb. There is a 4.5km
meandering, well laid path through the green pasture walk to Tung-
nath. The path is steep, has beautiful views, dhabs with snacks en-
route. The sun glistens intermittently behind the clouds, to brighten
up the entire white snow caps. The climb is steep so breathlessness
made one take regular stops. The cool icy winds didn't allow you to
part with the pullover, but the strong sun burnt our skin and made
us sweat in.. We missed the beauty of the pink, white and mauve
Rhododendrons enroute as the late snow fall delayed their flower-
ing. But views of the Oaks and Rhododenderons stretch their wide
branches out were awesome. Slowly we climbed for 2.5hrs to reach
Tunganath temple.

Rani ki Vav, Patan, Guajarat:

First when I saw Dada Harir ni vav I thought it was magnifi-
cent. Then when I saw Adalaj Vav, I thought it was much more
than magnificent. And now, when I visited Rani Ki Vav, I almost
fainted!!!
As my friend rightly said, Rani ki Vav (The stepwell of
Queen), is actually the Rani of Vav-s (Queen of Stepwells).
This was built by Queen Udayamati, wife of King Bhimade-
va I, in the last part of 11thC AD. This well is in the East West
direction. Its dimensions are 64 x 20 x 27 metres. The entrance is
on the eastern side. Well, before the discovery of this well, the
entire well was submerged within the ground. So even today, on-
ly the top most point of the well, is just above the ground level.
Before its excavation by ASI, it was used by the locals are a regu-
lar pond, as none of the architechtural or sculptural beauty was
visible from above ground level. It was only in 1958, ASI started
digging up this place and what came out was mind-blowing awe-
someness.
It has multi storeyed pavilions, but its not accessible today for
general public, as per the rules of ASI, so as to protect the monu-
ment
Let me stop talking now, let's go over to the pics and you'll know
why I almost fainted in its awesomeness!!!
Talasri, Odisha

Literally Talsari means the line of Tal (Sweet palm tree). Not such
legend behind the etymology of this place. As at this beach you
will rarely find palm tree instead millions of casurina plant you
will find. What may be, we are not much more concerned with ety-
mology rather our concern is on the scenic beauty. The place is fa-
mous for many reasons:

1.Fishing depot: You can observe hundreds of boats at his beach.

One depot is there where you will find pile of marine fishes caught
by local fisherman. If you are vegetarian then this place may both-
er you by the pungent smell of marine fish. Don’t be panic other
place is there to amaze your mind.

2.Sea beach: Of course this is a sea beach, you can enjoy it. The
beach is different from normal sea beach as not such wave is ob-
served there.

3.Red crab at island beach: Most interesting thing is the red

crabs. They found in millions and make the beach like red carpet.
If you want to catch them, it’s pretty difficult. They are very clever,
when you try to catch them immediately they percept it by their an-
tenna. Suddenly they entered into their
premade holes. Not only they get alert them-
selves about incom- ing enemy but also they
alert others also. Great is their combina-
tion & coordination. So don’t ever try to hurt
them. They make the beach more beauti-
ful & attracting thousands of tourists
from all over India & abroad. Believe me you will enjoy this ex-
traordinary creation of nature. If you want to see them then you
have to reach at the island. The island is reachable only after the
down tide. You can ask the local people about the tide time. Other-
wise you will get stuck there for hours till the down tide.
 Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu

Finally we were standing at railway plate form of Ramesvaram.

Before exit from Railway Station we refreshed us with hot coffee
and some snaks. There were plenty of autos available outside sta-
tion.Hired an auto for advance booked hotel Agnee Teertham
(Tamil Nadu Tourism Corporation Hotel) .

Hotel Teertham is standing just at one side of Arab Sagar at a short

distance from Agnee Teertham Mandir. After dinner in dinning hall
of hotel ,other members slept. I took my camera and walked to Ag-
ni teertham Mandir. It was dark late night but, many devotees were
sill there to perform religious rituals.I clicked some shots and soon
back to my room.
Dhanushkodi was almost inaccessible till a new road that runs
along the ocean was built. It extends all the way from Rameswa-
ram to Arichal Munai or Land's End, the closest point to Sri Lanka
on Indian Territory and a point flanked by the ocean on all three
sides.
After half hr journey of 20 Km,we saw a long stretch of Bay of
Bengal, running just parallel to road. As we drove nearer to Dhan-
usukodi ,this lining of Bay of Bengal was coming closer and closer
to road. It was life time ride ,I was seeing Indian Ocean on other
side of road. Wow…..now the road was in between two seas.

Dhanushkodi is a Beautiful place lies as a land of sand in the centre

of roaring ocean (Indian Ocean) and a silent sea (Bay of Bengal).
Dhanushkodi fills the visitors with the feel of awe by its spectacular
view of clear Blue Sea, Roaring tides, Beach and the Lonely Devas-
tated Ghost land.
Poem:
North, South, East and West,
Chupta, Dhanushkodi, Talasri and Patan are best.
Chupta, Dhanushkodi, Talasri and Patan are less explored destina-
tions,
But, much better than my imaginations.
I would fly and watch them from the sky,
When my shadow will be long and high.
These are gifts of Got to mankind,
We are list in their beauty and get piece of mind